Oklahoma State University Athletics
Mihaela Susa: Leading the Way For Cowgirl Cross Country
November 01, 2007 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
The 2007 Oklahoma State's women's cross country season has been filled with its share of ups and downs. The Cowgirls have battled injuries all year and the loss of top returner Tone Hjalmarsen and standout newcomer Marcela Lustigova at different points of the season have clearly been felt on the scoreboard.
Fortunately for head coach Rene Sepulveda, however, he doesn't have to look very far to find bright spots on this year's squad, starting with his freshman Mihaela Susa. A native of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Susa has made an immediate impact in her first season in Stillwater, wasting no time in establishing herself as the Cowgirls' top runner.
Susa's journey to the United States almost never happened. After becoming dissatisfied with her coaching situation in Romania, she considered giving up running. After speaking with a fellow Romanian who had attended school at Oklahoma State and had taken classes with assistant coach Abraham Ekal, Susa was put in contact with head coach Rene Sepulveda and committed to Oklahoma State before even stepping foot in America.
“It was a big move because it was the first time I had ever been to America,” said Susa. “I'm glad that I'm here now. I like it very much and I accept the challenge of coming here. For me it was a challenge to come here to a different country. I had spent time away from home at camps, but this isn't a camp, this is my life now in a new country. If I had the decision again, I would definitely still accept it.”
“I'm glad that I have so many wonderful people around me, I love all the girls on the team and I have two coaches that are really good.”
Despite the distance from home, Susa stays in touch with her family and keeps them up to date on all of her running success.
“My family supports me all the time. My mom is a big fan. I speak with her every week on the phone and she sends me mail every day,” Susa said.
She has had plenty to call home about this season.
Susa has been the top finisher for the Cowgirls every race in which she has run this year and earned all-Big 12 honors after notching a 15th place finish at the conference championships. Despite her early success, Susa has remained humble and motivated to improve each and every race.
“I'm not satisfied with what I've run up to now,” she said. “I hope to improve the next race and to run faster. I'm glad that I'm the first girl, but I don't want people to see me different or anything. I want to be treated like all the girls from the team, it doesn't matter if I'm first or not.
“I hope to improve and the coach helps me a lot and the practices are very good and I always want the next race to be the best race.”
“This next race is important because it will decide if I go to nationals or not, but I hope to go with the team, because we are a team here and all the girls from the team want this.”
While the cultural differences abound both on the cross country course and off it, Susa's adjustment was eased by the welcoming arms of her teammates.
“At home I didn't have a team and I love that I have a team here. I have girls to run with every day and it's very different,” Susa said. “I also didn't have as many races. Here I have a race every two weeks. It's harder, but I like it because I think it will make me run faster.”
Susa has embraced Stillwater, saying she likes everything from the close proximity she lives to school and the track to the crosswalks on campus where people actually stop for you to cross the street.
“I love this city and I would definitely not choose any other city to come to,” said Susa.
Sepulveda sees Susa's performance this year as just the beginning of what could be a stellar Cowgirl career and combined with the young talent coming back next season, the cornerstone for a great Oklahoma State team.
“She handled the level of competition very well for her first year,” said Sepulveda. “After this, she can see what she can do. She said she wants to be in the top 10 next year. She has the ability to be a top-10 runner this year but I think she just used it as a learning experience. Now that she has the experiences under her belt, it will motivate her to be in the top ten next year.”
Fortunately for head coach Rene Sepulveda, however, he doesn't have to look very far to find bright spots on this year's squad, starting with his freshman Mihaela Susa. A native of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Susa has made an immediate impact in her first season in Stillwater, wasting no time in establishing herself as the Cowgirls' top runner.
Susa's journey to the United States almost never happened. After becoming dissatisfied with her coaching situation in Romania, she considered giving up running. After speaking with a fellow Romanian who had attended school at Oklahoma State and had taken classes with assistant coach Abraham Ekal, Susa was put in contact with head coach Rene Sepulveda and committed to Oklahoma State before even stepping foot in America.
“It was a big move because it was the first time I had ever been to America,” said Susa. “I'm glad that I'm here now. I like it very much and I accept the challenge of coming here. For me it was a challenge to come here to a different country. I had spent time away from home at camps, but this isn't a camp, this is my life now in a new country. If I had the decision again, I would definitely still accept it.”
“I'm glad that I have so many wonderful people around me, I love all the girls on the team and I have two coaches that are really good.”
Despite the distance from home, Susa stays in touch with her family and keeps them up to date on all of her running success.
“My family supports me all the time. My mom is a big fan. I speak with her every week on the phone and she sends me mail every day,” Susa said.
She has had plenty to call home about this season.
Susa has been the top finisher for the Cowgirls every race in which she has run this year and earned all-Big 12 honors after notching a 15th place finish at the conference championships. Despite her early success, Susa has remained humble and motivated to improve each and every race.
“I'm not satisfied with what I've run up to now,” she said. “I hope to improve the next race and to run faster. I'm glad that I'm the first girl, but I don't want people to see me different or anything. I want to be treated like all the girls from the team, it doesn't matter if I'm first or not.
“I hope to improve and the coach helps me a lot and the practices are very good and I always want the next race to be the best race.”
“This next race is important because it will decide if I go to nationals or not, but I hope to go with the team, because we are a team here and all the girls from the team want this.”
While the cultural differences abound both on the cross country course and off it, Susa's adjustment was eased by the welcoming arms of her teammates.
“At home I didn't have a team and I love that I have a team here. I have girls to run with every day and it's very different,” Susa said. “I also didn't have as many races. Here I have a race every two weeks. It's harder, but I like it because I think it will make me run faster.”
Susa has embraced Stillwater, saying she likes everything from the close proximity she lives to school and the track to the crosswalks on campus where people actually stop for you to cross the street.
“I love this city and I would definitely not choose any other city to come to,” said Susa.
Sepulveda sees Susa's performance this year as just the beginning of what could be a stellar Cowgirl career and combined with the young talent coming back next season, the cornerstone for a great Oklahoma State team.
“She handled the level of competition very well for her first year,” said Sepulveda. “After this, she can see what she can do. She said she wants to be in the top 10 next year. She has the ability to be a top-10 runner this year but I think she just used it as a learning experience. Now that she has the experiences under her belt, it will motivate her to be in the top ten next year.”
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